iirc, it wasn't about upstream sources but water usage in the territories and control of that...

the concern is that israel would divert much of the available water to the use of settlements rather than palestinians...

and i don't view palestinians as beggars...

they are a people who deserve self-government just as much as any other people...

and regardless of your opinion i still believe palestinians will ultimately choose peace if it is actually offered to them in a deal that grants palestine sovereignty and control over their own state and its resources...

there are difficult issues to be negotiated but undermining hamas can only help lead to real solutions...

i would think that undermining hamas would be a goal of both israel and the pla in order to move toward peace...

Are you willing to require the palestinian state to be de-militarized even though that is a blow against their sovereignty just as the water control issue would be? Because given the hateful history of Israel's neighbors, Israel cannot accept the threat that would be created by establishing a palestinian state with an unlimited ability to militarize. Water is nearly as much of a security issue as weaponry.

Israel tried to partner with Fatah to undermine Hamas prior to Hamas' election in Gaza but Fatah failed to do what was necessary (arrests, disarmaments, etc.). My guess is that it was because the palestinian people wouldn't have allowed it. That means the problem is the people, not just Hamas.

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